Talking-machine.



F. L. CAPPS.

TALKiNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FELSD IULY 1. I915.

Patented Jan. 14., 1919..

3 $HEETSSHEET I.

F. L. CAPPS.

TALKING MACHINE "memo" HLED w'Lv 1,1915. 1,291,398. Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

F L. CAPPS.

TALKING MACl-HNL armcmon FILED my 1.1915.

Patentad Jan. 14, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

FRANK I. CAPPS, OF BRIDGEPOBT. CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN GRAPHO- PHONE COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPOB'I, QONNECTICUT.

VIRGINIA.

A CORPORATION OF WEST TALKINq-MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14. 1919.

Application filed July 1. 1915. Serial No. 37,550.

To all whom it may onccrp:

Be it known that I. Fan a L. CAPPS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Bridgeport, Connecticut. have. invented a new and useful Impnn'emcnt in Talking-Machines. which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates especially to the t me-arm. the amplifier and the connecting parts which form the tone-passage, together with the supporting elements therefor.

One object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal construction which can he cheaply manufactured and which is supcrior to earlier constructions in acoustic quail ties. simplicity. lightness and beauty. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved universal joint between the tone-arm and the tone-tube.

The invention can be embodied in any of -a number of ways. and in the accompanying drawings, for the sake of illustration. I have shown two embodiments. lt willbe understood. however. that the invention is not limited to the exact constructions shown as other constructions can embody the invention as defined in the claimsappended to this specification.

Of the drawings.

Figure l isa fragmentary side view of a graphophonc of the horn type embodying, the invention. certain parts being broken away for the sake of cleurncss of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the tone-arm;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the combined tonetube and bracket; f

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the combined tone-tube and bracket;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the combined tone-tube and bracket and also'shows the universal joint between the tone-tube and the tone-arm:

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the tone-tube elbow which connects with the horn:

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing parts of a graphophone of the hornless ty 1e cmlmdying the invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the combined tone-tube and bracket shown in Fig. 7:

Fig. 9 is a view partly in section showing the tone-arm of the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring to the drawings. 1 represents sents the re roducer which may be of any usual or pre erred form. The reproducer is. suitably connected through a reproducing elbow 5 with a tone-arm 6 provided with an elbow 7. So far as some of the features of the invention are concerned, the tone-arm and elbows may be formed in any of the well known ways, but I prefer, however. to provide a tone-arm and elbows of an improved and novel constrm-tion. The main part 6 of the tone-arm is formed of two initially separate pieces of sheet. metal which. after being cut to pro er shape. are suitably pressed and bent. to orm two half tubes These two half tubes are joined along their longitmlinal edges preferably by means of brazing or soldering. In the drawin s the line 6' indicates one of the two joints. lint it will be understood that. in the finished product the two parts may be so nicely joined as to make the line of joining invisible. especially after one of the usual finish processes has been employed. The 01 bows 5 and 7 are also each formed of two initially separate pieces of sheet metal pressed into the proper shape and afterward end to receive he elbow 5 which can be secured in place n any suitable manner. as for instance. brazing. Preferably the section 6 apd the elbow7 are joined by means of a ring 9 winch can be brazed or otherwise secured in position. Preferably. as shown in Fig. 2. the plane of joining of the two parts of the elbow 5 is at right angles to the plane of joining! of the two parts of the section 6 in order that the joints will not register with each other longitudinally. In this way added strength is secured.

The elbow 7 is provided at its o ud with a spherical section '10. Projecting from this spherical section are two oppositely positioned trunnions 11--1l which. for reasons that will presently appear. are preferably the end parts of a pin 12 which critends from one side of the spherical section to the other. Preferably. for reasons to be hereinafter stated. the trunnions (and the entire pin when used) are located eeccntrically of the sphere and on the side thereof toward the main portion of the elbow.

For 'connectin r the tone-arm with the amplifier and also or'supporting the tone-arm (and sometimes the amplifier), I providca combined tone-tube and brarlzet which is mounted upon the case 1. The tone-tube is connected with the amplifier by means of a suitable elbow which can. be constructed according to preference either so arately from the tom-ftube or integrall t erewith. In Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5 1 have s owf n a combined tone-tube and bracket 13 of the sort adapted for a graphophone of the horn type, the tone-tube and bracket in this case serving to support the born as Well as the tone-arm. in this embodiment of the invention the combined tone-tube and bracket has a tube portion 14 and a bracket portion 15 formed integrally of two ice-es of sheet metal which are out to suita le shape, and are then pressed and bent to form the two halves of the completed device. Then these two halves are joined by brazing or soldering in the way already described in connection with the tone-arm. The plane of joining is indicated by 13 in Figs. 3 and 4; The bracket part 15 extends downward and inward and is provided at its lower inner ,end with a flange 16 which is referably constructed as a separate piece of metal and 1s brazed to thetwo pieces of'met'al forming the main body part of the tone=tnhe and braeket, said flange bein provided with a plurality of holes 17*]? adapted to receive screws 18 to secure the bracket and tone-tube to the case.

The tone-tube pal't 14 of the combined device 13 connects at one end (in this case the upper end) with the tone-tubeelbow, which in this construction is formed separately. The elbow is indicated by 19, and, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, is formed of two pieces of sheet metal which are bent and united in the, way already described in epnnection with the other parts The lower end of the'elbow fits over the upper end of the tube portion l of the combined device 13 so as to be rotatable thereon, and mayv engage an annular rib 20 formed on, the tube portion 14. The two parts of the'elbow lave pressed into them prior to;being joined parts of srrew threads "hich, upon the unitin of the two pieces, I'Ogltll'GIJVltll each 011 ier to form a complete series ofithrrads as indicated at 21. I y i 22' represents the born. or amplifier provided at its lower end with a threaded portion adapted to be screwed into the threaded portion of the elbow 19. that the horn 22 is supported by means of the elbow a nd the combined tone-tube and bracket 13. 1

At the end tr tube portion 14 of the combined dei ieejgfi pppositeto the tone-tube elbow" (in midi-case, the lower; end) tin-re eo'n st ituting ably the spring is convex on ing the pm 12 so as to offer little or no 195 It will be observed are formed two opposite circurnfcrentially extending open slots 23. The spherical scution 10 of the tone-arm elbow already described is of such a size as to extend into and closely fit the lower part of the tube portion 14. The trunnions l1---11 before referred to extend into the open slots 23 and serve to support the tone-arm in its proper position. As the axis oi the trun nions is eccentric of the spherical section, 76 the said section is supported with its circle. of tube contact above the said open slots 23, thus maintaining a completely closed tonepassage and prei 'enting the Lfil'flpe of sound. To prevent sound vibrations being formed 80 in the hollow bracket part 15, and making disagreeable echoes, I insert at the upper end of the bracket part a plug 24 of felt or other equivalent material. The slots 23 are properly positioned and are suilicient'ly long; to permit the tone-arm to swing llol'i zontally and enable the reproduorr to follow the record. The lone-arm mu swing vertically either when followinp an irregular record or when manually lifted 1hr snlil irunnions 11-1l serving as pivots. it will be understood that these pivot trunnions must slide horizontally in the slots as lhc tone-arm is raised or lowered in order to permit the spherical section to swing about its true geometrical center.

In orderto prevent any noise caused by looseness and resulting vibration at the joint, I provide a spring 25 which, in the pre ferred embodiment is secured LU the tonetube atone end and which presses laterally against a pin l2 at its other end, thereby a cantaliver spring. Preferthe side eng ne opposition to the movement of thetone-arm. This spring also, preferably is secured in the Wall of the tone-tnbe by means of a rivet having a large head 25 t its inner end. clearly indicated in Fig. 5 this 11;) head servesas a stop to engage the edge of the spherical section 10 and limit the downward, movement of the tone-aim when its free end is not supported by the record.

In Figs, 7 and 8 I have shown the i mention embodied in a graphophoiieof the soealled lhornless type; The tone-arm 6"" with its elbow 7 is or may be'the same as already described, except that the elbow turns downward instead of upward. "Ro lie-"12b tition of the full description is unnecessary. 13 represents the combined tone-tube ahd bracket, it being ossibleinthis'ronstruction to combine the racket part 16 with its tone-tube elbow. pands towardits lower inner end where i't communicates withnn amplifier 26 inside the case. The brzurkct'part is provided with a' 7 flange 16 similarntoithe flange 18 already described. and similarly (UllllQLtlttlw The bracket part 15' eie 'i25 closely fitting section as to osition the said section with its circle of to e contact beyond said axis.

14. The combination in a grephophone, oi a tone-tube, a tone-arm provided with a spherical end section positioned Within and the tone-tube, one of said members having oppositely disposed circumfcrentially extending slots near one end, and oppositely positioned trunnions carried by the other of said members and projecting into the slots, the axis of the said trunnions being so located cccentrically of the spherical section as to ,position the said section with its circle of tube contact beyond the said slots.

15. The combination in a graphophone, of a tone-tube having oppositely disposed circuml'erentially cxtcnding'slots near one end, a tone-arm provided with a spherical section positioned within and closely fittin the tone-tube, and oppositely positioned trnnnions carried by the spherical section andprojecting into the slots, the axis of the said trnnnions being so located ecccn trically of the spherical section as to position the said section with its circle of tube contact beyond the said slots.

16. The combination in :1 gr: )hophonc. of a tone-tube having 0 )positely hisposed circnniferentially extending-slots near one end,

a tone-arm provided with a spherical sec tion positioned within and closely fitting the tone-tube, oppositclv positioned tru nions carried by the spherical section and projecting into the slots .-and a spring not log laterally on the spherical section to prevent vibration.

'17. The combination in a graphophone, of a tone-tube having oppositely disposed cirrumfcrentially extending slots near one end, a tone'arm provided with a spherical section positioned within and closely fitting the tone-tube, oppositel positioned trunnions carried by the splierical section and projecting into the slots, the axis of the said trunnions being so located eccentrically of the spherical section as to position the said section with its circle of tube contact beyond the said slots, and a spring acting laterally on the spherical section to prevent vibration. g

18. The combination in a, graphophone, of e tone tube having oppositely disposed circumfercntially extending slots near one end, a tone-arm provided with a Shherical section positioned within and closely fitting the tone-tube, a pin extending through the spherical section and terminating in trunnions projecting into the slots, and a spring mounted on the tone-tube and pressinglat orally against the pin to prevent vibration.

19. The combination in a graphophonc, of a tonc-tnbc having oppositely disposed circunifcrentially extending slots near one end, a tone-arm provided with a spherical section positioned within and closely fitting the tone tubu, a pin extending through the spherical section and terminating in trunnions projecting into the slots, the said pin being so located ccccntrirally of the spherical section as to position the said scction with its circle of tube contact beyond the said slots, and a spring mount-ed on the tone-tube and pressing laterally against the pin to rcvcnt vibration.

'20. 'l he con'ibination in a graphophone, of a tonetubc having oppositely disposed circumfcrcntially extending slots near one end, a toneeirin provided with a spherical section positioned within and closely fitting the tonc-tnbe, a pin extending through the spherical scction and terminating in trunnlons pYo ectmg into the slots, and a cantaliver spring :rmontcdon the tone-tube and pressing against the pin to prevent vibration, the said spring being (more): on the side engaging the pin to permit the pin to move freely with the tone-arm.

21. The combination in a graphophone, of a tone-tube having oppositely disposed circlnnfercntially extending slots near one end, a tone-arm provided with a spherical section positioned within and closely fitting the tone-tube, a pin extending through the spherical section and terminating in trunnions projecting into the slots, a cantalircr spring pressing laterally against the pin to prevent vibration, and a rivet for conneeting the spring to the tone-tube having a head positioned to be engaged by the edge of the spherical section to hunt downward movement of the tone-arm.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK L. CAPPS.

Witnesses:

R. H. Annenur, P. J LENNY. 

